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Moving to Toronto, Canada

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The most populous city in Canada, and the fourth most populous city in North America, Toronto is a thriving, multicultural metropolis. If you love a big city, but desire a little of the calm of Canada, consider moving to Toronto.

Canada is welcoming more and more immigrants as part of a policy for economic growth. Many of Canada’s new arrivals head for Ontario. As the eastern most province’s capital, Toronto is located in Southern Ontario on the shore of massive Lake Ontario. Just a stone’s throw from rivers, ravines and forest, Toronto sits on a plateau that has been traversed by indigenous people for more than 10,000 years.

Toronto has a population of nearly three million and is classed as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Almost half of Toronto’s residents belong to a minority population group. Over 200 ethnic groups make Toronto their home, speaking over 160 languages.

You will find many thriving industries, including music, media, finance, tourism and technology. The headquarters of many Canadian and global organisations reside amongst Toronto’s skyscrapers. Despite having a big city skyline, Toronto is a clean and attractive city with many areas set aside for parkland and just a short journey to the true wilds of Canada. The city is visited by 25 million tourists each year.

History and culture

Toronto was home to the indigenous people of Canada for thousands of years. First were probably the Wyandot people, followed by the Iroquois. The first European trading posts in the area were setup by the French in 1750, later in the 18th Century the area was populated by the British.

The next biggest influx of migrants were Irish after the Great Irish Famine and by 1851 the Irish-born population were the largest ethnic group. They were followed by migrants from many countries during and after the second world war, to make Toronto the truly multicultural city it is today.

Languages

English is the most widely spoken language in Toronto, but Italian and Chinese are the next most popular languages spoken at work. Canada is officially bilingual in English and French but only around 10% of Ontario’s French speakers live in Toronto. Emergency services in Toronto are able to answer a call in 150 languages.

Location, geography and climate

Toronto slopes downwards from its northern point for 21km to Lake Ontario. It’s surrounded on all but the lake side by the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Just to give some perspective, the city of Toronto covers just over 632 square kilometres, Lake Ontario covers nearly 19,000 square kilometres. To visit the ocean on the east coast you could take an 8 to 10-hour drive, a 3-hour flight into Maine or a 1.5-hour flight to New York.

Toronto is classed as semi-continental (inland) and has four distinct seasons, plus some quite incredible variations in weather for North America due to the “lake effect” from Lake Ontario and the other neighbouring great lakes.

Summer is sunny, warm and humid, winter is cold, though not as cold as many of Canada’s cities. There will be snow on the ground most days between mid-December and mid-March. Smog can be a minor problem in summer blowing in from factories and industrial plants on the shore of Lake Ontario, and from further afield in North America.

Earthquakes are rare in Toronto but can happen. The strongest for Ontario was a 3.8 magnitude quake 18 years ago.

The lake effect

The great lakes can cause fog and sometimes a delaying of spring, or autumn like conditions known as “seasonal lag”. Lake effect snow is the most severe effect of living close to such an expanse of water. Sudden blizzards or “white-outs” can be extremely hazardous for drivers, and lead to large volumes of snow which can bring the city to a halt for a few days at a time.

Making your move to Toronto

Visas and residency for Toronto

Canada’s immigration policy is relatively open if you have skills to offer, can financially support yourself and have close family in the country. There are a number of immigration streams you can consider. Some are federal schemes which apply to the country as a whole, with no restrictions on where you live, unless you are tied to a job offer.

Canadian provinces also have their own immigration streams some of which can be more faster or more favourable depending on your experience and the skills in demand in the province.

If you are visiting Canada from the UK you can usually stay for under six months without needing a visa.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)

Canada have now introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) scheme similar to that operated in America. It is simple to apply for online and has the primary aim of preventing terrorism. You must have a Canadian eTA to fly into, or transit through, a Canadian airport. The eTA costs $7 CAD and the application can be found here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp

Immigration routes for Toronto

Here is a quick summary of some of the immigration streams which could lead you to a permanent move to Toronto.

Express entry

This is a points based system. You are awarded points for certain factors including your skills, education, language ability and experience. Additional points are awarded for a job offer from a valid employer or a nomination from a Canadian province.

The system can change frequently but you may be able to reach the points threshold without a job offer, and usually a job offer or provincial nomination will put you over the points threshold. If you have a qualifying number of points you are eligible to enter a draw. The federal government frequently chooses candidates over a certain points threshold who are then invited to apply for permanent residency.

If you have a job offer you can usually gain a temporary work visa and move to Canada while you are waiting to go through the process of permanent residency.

To take a job in Canada your prospective employer will normally need to prove that there is not a Canadian applicant available with the skills for their role. The federal government publishes lists of job categories which are classed as in demand and likely to lead to immigration for a suitable applicant.

Provincial Nomination for Ontario

As Toronto is in the province of Ontario you can also consider immigration routes through the Provincial Nomination scheme there. For Ontario it’s the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) which allows employers to sponsor applicants who have experience which is in demand for Ontario.

You must also be eligible for Express Entry but you may find you have factors which make you more suitable for jobs in Ontario ahead of other areas of Canada. In which case getting a nomination through the OINP will speed up your application and increase your chances. You must however, then continue and live in Ontario when you are successful

Start-up visa

If you’re an entrepreneur you can enter Canada and start a business which creates jobs for the Canadian economy. But you must gain support from a designated organisation, meet ownership requirement and have enough money to settle.

Immigrant investors

Though closed right now the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program is a route to consider if you are fortunate enough to have a net worth of $10 million CAD plus! However, you must have gained this through business rather than an owned property or an inheritance.

Self-employed

The self-employed category is limited to those with relevant experience in cultural or sporting activities and who intend to contribute to the cultural or athletic landscape in the country. Or, those with experience managing a farm and who intend to purchase and run a farm in Canada.

Family sponsorship

You can be sponsored by a family member already in Canada. They must already be a citizen or permanent resident and should be a spouse, partner, parent or child.

Detailed immigration information for Toronto and Canada

For information on the full criteria and eligibility for all the options above and more immigration streams for Canada visit the government of Canada’s website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/

The British Embassy in Toronto

Though not the place to start your immigration to Toronto the British Consulate-General in Toronto represents the UK government in Ontario. They provide certain services to British nationals living in or visiting Canada. They can help if your passport has been lost or stolen and with other notarial and documentary services.

Pets

Once you have made travel plans and looked at necessary documentation for you and your family, it’s time to consider other members of your family – your pets!

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will require documents for an animal travelling to Canada, as long as it meets their import requirements. Dogs and cats coming from the UK, which is recognised as being a rabies free country, do not need to be quarantined. Be careful about certain breeds of dog as Pit Bull Terriers cannot be taken to Toronto or Ontario.

Birds and rodents are also allowed but there are some restrictions depending on the species. Rabbits do require quarantine.

The Canadian government website is an excellent resource for anyone moving to Toronto or indeed Canada. The full regulations per species and originating destination are here

Moving your things to Toronto

Travelling to Toronto by air

There are direct flights available from the UK to Toronto. A Heathrow to Toronto flight is around 7 hours 45 minutes. It may be cheaper to consider a flight which changes at an airport in Europe such as France or Amsterdam which will add a few hours to your journey. Prices vary greatly so Google Flights is a good place to start your search and get an idea of prices. Flights will be more expensive at holiday times, such as school summer break and winter vacation.

Travelling to Toronto by sea

Though it’s far less popular, if you really don’t like to fly, or love the ocean, you can make your move to Toronto by sea. As well as cruise ships, jumping aboard a cargo ship is another possibility. They do accommodate passengers and your route would probably by Felixstowe to New York. This would leave you either an overland flight, bus, or car journey from New York to Toronto, but it would also be a great opportunity to explore.

Shipping and removals

Making a move to a new city and new country is incredibly stressful. We are tied to both our family and friends and our material possessions and just don’t want to leave either. With modern technology, social media and falling communications prices it’s easy to keep in touch. But, what do you do about your belongings! We all accumulate many items which have personal attachments, from treasures and trinkets through to art and furniture.

It’s actually less expensive than you think to move your belongings from one country to another and you probably want to consider using a moving or shipping company. Though you can arrange to pack, protect, and ship your belongings through a courier or arranging a container on freighter yourself.

Using a professional shipping and moving company takes this stress away. They will work with you to plan the size of your shipment, whether you need a whole container or space in a shared container, inventory and insurance, and help with packing your possessions so that they arrive safely. A moving company will plan and execute every step of the journey from collecting your items to ensuring they arrive safely, right at the door of your new home.

What to pack for a move to Toronto

Packing your belongings to ship by air or sea

If you are shipping your possessions you must make sure they are wrapped safely and securely and protected from damp as they could be in transit for a while. If you are sending a shipment from the UK to Toronto it will take a few weeks to arrive by sea. You can ship your belongings ahead of time so they are waiting for you when you arrive. If you are going to be waiting for the rest of your items when you arrive in Toronto, it’s important to pack in your suitcases, which will travel with you by plane, everything you need.

Suitcase essentials

A few quick tips on suitcase and hand luggage contents:

Pack according to what you have decided to purchase new when you get to Toronto

Pack as if you were going on vacation, if you are likely to be waiting for your shipment of belongings that will meet you there

Add a few items which are important to you or remind you of home, like photo’s or treasured items of your children’s. This will help their transition to a new home straight away

Take important documentation with you when you travel, ideally in your hand luggage. This should include things like birth certificates, passports, visa’s, marriage certificates and bank cards.

Create digital copies of your important photo’s, paperwork and documents and make sure they are stored safely so you are prepared for any lost luggage issues. Although rare they do happen

Look closely at weather forecasts when you arrive and plan clothing accordingly. If you are starting work or have children starting school immediately what might you need?

All that said don’t give in to the temptation to overpack. Only pack what you can comfortably carry. You have a long journey and need to have a hand free to help you get your bearings when you arrive in Toronto!

Living in Toronto

Employment

If your visa application requires it you will need to have a job before you make your move to Toronto. If not it’s still something you, or anyone accompanying you is likely to want to arrange before you move. Job bank is the government job board for Canada then there are many others like Indeed and Monster.

Unemployment is low, around 6 per cent for Ontario, and has been since 2001, however there is still high demand for skills which are in short supply in Canada. Technology, media, culture and food businesses are thriving in Toronto which means many jobs are available.

Job Bank

The official federal government jobs website is Job Bank. Any employer who is eligible to hire a foreign worker must have posted their jobs on Job Bank, so it’s a sensible first place to start.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

To work in Canada, you will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) which you must apply for when you arrive at a Service Canada location. It’s a simple process if you have your work visa and there are 10+ Service Canada locations in Toronto alone. You will need your SIN number to access any government programs and benefits.

Education

Canadian schools have high academic standards and Toronto is no different. Every child in Canada has a legal right to education and there are no tuition costs for Grades 1-12. Excellent private schools are also available.

In Canada elementary schools provide kindergarten years for ages 4 and 5, and then education from grades 1 to 5 or 8. There are also middle schools for grade 6-8. Then, secondary, also known as high schools, until grade 12 and roughly age 18.

Due to the sheer size of Canada and it’s forward thinking, home schooling is common place and there are many excellent home school organisations.

You can also choose French Immersion schools where most of the curriculum is taught in French, these schools are open to native French and English speakers. Most of the curriculum is designed for students who do not speak French at home. In these schools teaching in English is introduced at grade 4, or for specialist subjects.

International Schools

There are a number of private international schools in Toronto which offer French, German, Canadian or International Baccalaureate curriculums and there is a boys only school.

Universities

As an economic and cultural capital of Canada it’s no surprise that Toronto is home to some of Canada’s best universities. The University of Toronto is ranked 32nd in the world by QS World University Rankings and 1st in Canada. There is also York University, and Ryerson University.

Healthcare

The province of Ontario has one of the best health care systems in the world. Once you have held Canadian residence for three months you can join the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). You can apply as soon as you arrive in Canada. The OHIP pays for many of the health services you may need. You may also be able to get your OHIP if you have been working on Toronto, or Ontario, for six months or are waiting to get permanent residence.

Transportation

Toronto is the hub of many of the road, rail, and air networks for Southern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Canada’s road and rail networks are excellent and well planned and Toronto is no exception. Highway 401 runs through the city and is the widest and busiest highway in Canada. Within the city, road layouts in Toronto are in the typical grid/block layout so navigating, once you get the hang of it, is easy.

Public Transport

A major rail transportation hub there is much commercial rail freight activity in the Toronto area. Via Rail provides passenger services linking Canadian cities right across the country. Amtrak trains run to New York.

There are several bus and coach stations in Toronto serving the city and intercity routes across Canada.

Toronto Transit Commission runs a well provisioned system of subways, buses and streetcars which cover 1,200km across the city. A single flat fare applies for any trip across the city excluding just a few outside or express routes.

The Toronto Streetcar System

There are eleven streetcar routes in the Toronto Streetcar System making it the largest tramway in North America. Some of the system dates back to the 19th century.

Driving Licences

You are able to drive in Toronto for 90 days with your UK driving license, after which you must exchange it for a Canadian driving license. You can do this by taking your documentation to a Service Canada location where you can complete the process quickly and be provided with a photographic driving license.

Airports

Home to the biggest airport in Canada and the world’s 15th busiest airport, Toronto boasts Toronto Pearson International Airport. There is also a smaller commercial airport on Toronto Island and a further International Airport 85km away in neighbouring Hamilton.

Neighborhoods

Toronto has 13 distinctively different and attractive neighbourhoods. A move to Toronto will leave you spoilt for choice of your next home location. From bustling City Centre to historic Old Town, trendy Westside or million-dollar views on the Waterfront and Toronto Islands. You can also choose from Eastside, Don Valley, High Park, Uptown, Scarborough, Mississauga, Brampton and family friendly Etobicoke.

Downtown city centre in Toronto is a mix of commercial and residential properties and is safer when compared with other major North American cities, but is expensive.

Outlying commuter towns offer safer, more family friendly options with lower prices. With excellent transport networks in Canada and indeed Toronto, commuting is not something to be fearful of.

Cultural centres

Music, media and multiculturalism flourish in unique and culture rich Toronto. There are museums, art galleries, theatres and festivals. The Royal Ontario Museum is known around the work and the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest in Canada and America combined.

Film and theatre are a backdrop to Toronto’s vibrant cultural base. There are film festivals most months and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is every September.

Major events

As well as the film festival in September, the International Festival of Authors falls in October, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Hockey Hall of Fame in November, the Toronto International Boat Show in January, Canadian International Autoshow in February and the Canadian Music Week in May, to name just a few.

The holiday season begins with a list of Halloween events, a Santa Claus Parade, the Toronto Christmas Market and ends with a New Year’s Eve celebration in the city.

Throughout every year in Toronto the city’s multiculturalism and creativity shines with street and music festivals, there is even a LEGO fan festival!

Sports

With a strong history in sport including hockey and football. Canada is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Argonauts (Canadian football league), Toronto Blue Jays (Major League baseball), Toronto FC (Major league soccer) as well as basketball, lacrosse and smaller league soccer. There are also many semi-professional and amateur clubs. If you’re a fan of something less mainstream Toronto has yachting, curling and rowing teams.

Toronto hosted the Pan American and Parapan American Games in 2015 but has yet to win an Olympic bid.

Sports facilities and opportunities to play or learn in Toronto are excellent and extensive across the city.